The time honoured Merson Cooper Stakes has been won by such gallopers as Pago Pago, Storm Queen, Quezette, Biscay, Blazing Saddles, Canonise and Vain - many of those now have races named after them! This year's field consists of 8 juveniles, with Long Leaf coming off a debut win at Morphettville in late October. He's one of three runners with race experience. 

On breeding, the field includes a half sister to Flying Artie, a filly that's closely related to Not A Single Doubt and a colt from the Terravista family!

1. Long Leaf (C) (FASTNET ROCK x Frustrating [STRAVINSKY (USA)])

*Bought by BBA Ireland for $750,000 at the NZB Premier Sale from the Curraghmore draft

*Dam won twice over 1000m & 1250m

*Dam is a 1/2 sister to TERRAVISTA, TIGER TEES, BALL OF MUSCLE, OUR LUKAS & SUPER EASY

*Long Leaf is her first winner on the track from two foals to race

*Dam has since produced a FASTNET ROCK filly and was covered by the stallion again last season

*2nd dam is the wonderful Parfore (NZ) – NZ Broodmare of the Year in 2014-15, who died aged 18 in 20016 at Segenhoe Stud

*3rd dam CLASSY TWIGGY was a LR winner and grand-dam of Champion NZ 2yo 2007-08 IL QUELLO VELOCE, DONNA CATTIVA and MOSSE

*STRAVINSKY is the broodmare sire of 75 stakes winners to date – including SERENADE ROSE, BENBAUN, LA SIZERANN and BALLET SOCIETY

(Long Leaf as a yearling)

2. Sanglier (C) (ALBRECHT x More Haste [Brief Truce])

*Part of ALBRECHT’S first crop to race

*1/2 brother to PROVERB – G3 winner of Gunsynd Classic in QLD and LR Dulcify Hcp

*Dam was G2 placed in Emancipation Stakes – she’s a 1/2 sister to DEXTROUS (dam of SKILLED, AMBIDEXTER, SIDESTEP)

*Last foal for dam, who was retired from the breeding barn in 2016 – she’s produced 9 named foals, 6 to race so far for 5 winners

*2nd dam Many Hands was G3 placed as well, she’s a 1/2 to ACCUMULATION

3. Irukandji (C) (DUNDEEL (NZ) x Cerberus Gal [GENERAL NEDIYM])

*Musk Cree Farm purchased colt as a weanling at the MM for $240,000 from Riversdale – then pin-hooked him through the MM Yearling Sale for $500,000 – sold to Spendthrift Australia

*Dam was G2, G3 and LR placed, she’s produced 3 named foals, 2 to race, 1 winner

*Dam has a yearling colt by ZOFFANY and recently foaled a full sister to Irukandji on 11/08/17

(Irukandji as a yearling)

4. Mumbles (C) (SMART MISSILE x FUMBLE [EXCEED AND EXCEL])

*DJ Bowman Racing paid $80,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale – offered by Carramar Park

*Dam FUMBLE by SNIPPETS won G3 Research Stakes and is a 1/2 sister to G1 SA Derby winner HARD TO GET and REPUTED GROOM

*FUMBLE has had 7 named foals, 6 to race, 4 winners , she has a yearling filly by DISSIDENT and recently foaled a filly by HEADWATER on 16/09/17

*Family of WALKEN

*SMART MISSILE has sired four stakes winners to date – his oldest crop are 4yo’s

(Mumbles as a yearling)

5. Secret Blaze (C) (SIZZLING x Abscond [GALILEO (IRE)])

*Sold for $90,000 at the Inglis Premier Sale to McEvoy Mitchell Racing from Millford Thoroughbreds  

*1/2 sis G3 and LR placed Invincibella

*Dam was unraced and is a 1/2 sister to Light Up Manhattan, she’s had 3 named foals, 1 to race for a winner

*She foaled a full sister to Secret Blaze last season and was covered by Brazen Beau

*2nd dam Luminata is a 1/2 sister to Adelaide Cup winner THE HIND and OREGON STAR

*3rd dam TACITURN a 3x LR winner

*Family of top stayer of the 70s TURFCUTTER, CENTURY KID and further down STARCRAFT

*SIZZLING’S oldest crop are 2yo’s – recently sired his first winner, Sugar Sizzle out of an EXCEED AND EXCEL mare

(Secret Blaze as a yearling)

6. Yulong Monoceros (F) (SQUAMOSA x I’m Taken [CAPE CROSS (IRE)])

*Sold for $27,000 from the Yarran Thoroughbreds draft to Yu Long Investments at the Inglis Premier Sale Session 2

*Dam won 5 times 1000m-1414m and is a 1/2 sister to G2 Avondale Guineas winner PULCINELLA

*Dam of 3 named foals, 2 to race – and has a yearling filly by CANFORD CLIFFS

*SQUAMOSA has sired stakes winner KIWI IDA – oldest progeny are 3yo’s

(Yulong Monoceros as a yearling)

7. Oohood (F) (I AM INVINCIBLE x Bella Sunday [SUNDAY SILENCE])

*Godolphin bred

*1/2 sister stakes placed Breakfast In Bed

*Dam Bella Sunday won twice over 1100 & 1400m, she’s a 1/2 sister to NOT A SINGLE DOUBT, Hanky Panky (dam of COME HITHER, FUN IN FLIGHT, and Natural is My Name (dam of ZIZOU)

*Dam has produced 9 named foals, 7 to race, 6 winners, she has a yearling filly by SMART MISSILE and a SNITZEL colt foaled 9/10/17

2nd dam Singles Bar was LR placed and she’s a 1/2 sister to SNIPPETS, QUICK SCORE, ASAWIR (dam of GHAREEB) TRUE BLONDE (dam of REGROWTH)

*Family of SHARNEE ROSE, MUSHREQ, ERTIJAAL, DERRYN & Golden Slipper winner FORENSICS

8. Pure (F) (PIERRO x FLYING RUBY [RUBITON])

*Passed in at Inglis Easter for $625,000 – retained to race by breeder

*1/2 sister to FLYING ARTIE G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner, 2nd in G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and 3rd G1 Golden Slipper – Leading 3yo Male on the 2016 WTR (Sprint). Champion 3yo Colt in Australia 2016-17

*Dam FLYING RUBY – LR winner and G3 placed, she’s had 5 named foals, 4 to race, all winners – she has a yearling colt by DISSIDENT and a recent full sister to Pure foaled 12/10/17

*2nd dam is a 1/2 sister BETTER LOOSEN UP – Aus Horse of the Year 1990-91  and multiple G1 winner – including W.S. Cox Plate, Australian Cup, Mackinnon Stakes and Japan Cup

(Pure as a yearling)